By Racheal Nagawa
Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem has been steadily evolving over the past decade, and young business owners are taking center stage. From tech innovations to agriculture and consumer goods, Nigeria’s under-35 entrepreneurs are building companies that not only generate revenue but also solve real problems for society. In this feature, we highlight ten inspiring young Nigerians making waves in business, their strategies for success, and lessons budding entrepreneurs can learn from them.
1. Iyinoluwa Aboyeji – Tech Visionary and Startup Builder
At just 27, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji co-founded Andela, a company that trains software developers across Africa and places them with global tech firms. He later co-founded Flutterwave, the fintech platform simplifying online payments across Africa. Aboyeji’s success lies in identifying skill gaps in the African market and building scalable solutions. He emphasizes the importance of mentorship and networking for young entrepreneurs.
Strategy for Success: Solve real problems with scalable solutions, leverage partnerships, and continuously invest in skill development.
2. Sim Shagaya – E-commerce Innovator
Sim Shagaya is the founder of Konga, one of Nigeria’s largest e-commerce platforms, and has recently launched multiple ventures in fintech and logistics. Despite early failures, he persevered, learning to iterate and adapt products based on consumer feedback. Shagaya’s entrepreneurial journey demonstrates resilience and customer-centricity.
Strategy for Success: Focus on solving everyday challenges, remain adaptable, and never fear failure.
3. Tara Fela-Durotoye – Beauty Mogul
Tara Fela-Durotoye is the founder of House of Tara, Nigeria’s leading beauty and cosmetics brand. Starting with limited capital, she transformed a niche market into a nationwide brand. Her approach blends innovation in beauty products with training and empowering women as makeup artists.
Strategy for Success: Build a strong brand identity, empower your workforce, and innovate continuously.
4. Olugbenga Agboola – Fintech Disruptor
Olugbenga Agboola, CEO of Flutterwave, has helped simplify payment processes for businesses across Africa, making cross-border transactions seamless. His approach combines technology, regulatory compliance, and a customer-first mindset. Agboola’s story is a lesson in how understanding the local market can lead to solutions that have continental impact.
Strategy for Success: Focus on solving systemic problems, understand regulations, and prioritize customer trust.
5. Adedayo Adeleke – Agritech Innovator
Adedayo Adeleke turned a small agribusiness into a platform connecting farmers to markets using technology. His company leverages data analytics to improve crop yields, reduce waste, and ensure farmers get fair prices. Adeleke’s success reflects the potential in marrying technology with traditional industries.
Strategy for Success: Leverage technology to solve traditional challenges, and focus on scalability.
6. Bilikiss Adebiyi – Waste-to-Wealth Pioneer
Bilikiss Adebiyi founded Wecyclers, a company that incentivizes recycling in Lagos through mobile technology. She combined environmental sustainability with entrepreneurship, creating jobs while tackling urban waste challenges. Bilikiss emphasizes community engagement and impact-driven business models.
Strategy for Success: Identify socially impactful solutions, combine technology with human-centered design, and focus on sustainability.
7. Odunayo Eweniyi – Fintech Leader
Odunayo Eweniyi co-founded PiggyVest, a platform enabling Nigerians to save and invest money securely. She focuses on financial literacy and providing accessible tools for wealth building. Her strategy highlights the power of digital platforms to create inclusive financial solutions.
Strategy for Success: Make financial tools simple and accessible, educate users, and scale through digital platforms.
8. Femi Adeyemi – Healthtech Entrepreneur
Femi Adeyemi launched a telemedicine platform that connects patients in remote areas to qualified medical professionals. By leveraging mobile technology, he addresses healthcare accessibility challenges in Nigeria. Adeyemi demonstrates how tech can fill gaps in essential services, improving lives while generating profit.
Strategy for Success: Identify service gaps, use technology creatively, and prioritize user experience.
9. Funke Opeke – Power Sector Innovator
Funke Opeke founded MainOne, providing reliable broadband and power solutions across West Africa. She combined technical expertise with a deep understanding of infrastructural needs to disrupt a challenging sector. Opeke’s approach underscores the value of combining knowledge, strategy, and risk-taking.
Strategy for Success: Focus on sectors with high impact potential, combine expertise with market insight, and persist through regulatory hurdles.
10. Folarin Akinmurele – Venture Capitalist and Ecosystem Builder
Folarin Akinmurele, founder of Ventures Platform, invests in early-stage African startups. He identifies potential in young entrepreneurs and provides mentorship and funding to scale their businesses. His work highlights the importance of supporting ecosystems, not just individual ventures.
Strategy for Success: Invest in people and ecosystems, offer mentorship, and nurture innovation communities.
Key Lessons from These Entrepreneurs
- Solve Real Problems: Each entrepreneur identified pressing societal or industry-specific issues and created scalable solutions.
- Leverage Technology: Many integrated technology into traditional sectors, demonstrating the power of digital innovation.
- Start Small, Scale Smart: Whether in fintech, agritech, or e-commerce, they began with manageable operations and expanded strategically.
- Persistence Pays Off: Challenges such as funding gaps, regulatory hurdles, or market skepticism were common, yet persistence drove success.
- Empower Communities: Successful entrepreneurs often combine profit with impact, creating jobs and improving lives.
The Nigerian Entrepreneurial Landscape
Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy, with a rapidly growing young population. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, over 60% of Nigerians are under 35, making youth entrepreneurship critical to economic development. Sectors like technology, agriculture, fintech, e-commerce, and renewable energy are attracting attention due to their growth potential and relatively low barriers to entry.
Programs like the Tony Elumelu Foundation, the Bank of Industry’s youth loans, and tech incubators such as Co-Creation Hub and Ventures Platform are providing resources, mentorship, and funding for aspiring entrepreneurs.
However, challenges persist, including unreliable power supply, inconsistent internet infrastructure, access to finance, and regulatory bottlenecks. Yet, as these young entrepreneurs demonstrate, innovation, persistence, and a clear value proposition can overcome many obstacles.
Why Young Entrepreneurs Are Reshaping Nigeria
Young Nigerians are increasingly thinking beyond traditional employment. They are leveraging digital platforms, accessing global markets, and creating products and services tailored to African realities. By doing so, they are building sustainable businesses that contribute to economic growth while inspiring others.
These under-35 entrepreneurs exemplify what is possible when passion meets strategy. They have turned challenges into opportunities, proving that age is not a barrier to creating impactful businesses.
Conclusion
Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is vibrant, and its future is in the hands of innovative, determined young people. The ten entrepreneurs highlighted here provide not only inspiration but also actionable lessons for anyone looking to start or scale a business in 2026 and beyond. By solving real problems, leveraging technology, and remaining resilient, young Nigerians are not just building wealth—they are shaping the nation’s economic future.
About the Author
Racheal Nagawa is a business journalist covering entrepreneurship, SMEs, and innovation in Africa. She highlights the journeys of young business leaders, providing insights and inspiration for emerging entrepreneurs across the continent.
